Penalties issued in two federal enforcement cases

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports the following cases charged recently:

• F/V Baranof — Owner Romanzof Fishing Co. LLC and operator Reynaldo Rubalcava were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with failing to maintain a current NMFS-approved flow scale and video monitoring system for Pacific cod. A $15,176 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• F/V Northern Endurance — Owner F/V Northern Endurance LLC and operator Michael McKee II were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act for discarding IFQ sablefish and rockfish, failing to report discards, and failing to submit Daily Fishing Log sheets to OLE. A $16,500 NOVA was issued.

Gulf pollock, cod violations draw $36,441 penalty

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports the following case charged in April:

• F/V Alaskan Lady — Owner Alaskan Lady LLC and operator Keith M. Williams were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with directed fishing in pollock and Pacific cod no fishing zones and exceeding the maximum retainable amounts of pollock and Pacific cod in the Gulf of Alaska. A $36,441 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Feds detail three enforcement cases

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports these cases charged in December:

• F/V Evie Grace — Owner Evie Grace Fisheries LLC and operator Robert B. Langdon were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with observer sampling interference, unlawful discard of a Rockfish Program species, and with exceeding maximum retainable amounts of bycatch in 2022 and 2023. A $35,918 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued, and the case settled for $33,368.

• F/V Gambler — Owner Gambler Tendering LLC and operator Kyle Potter were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with operating a vessel without transmitting from a vessel monitoring system when required, and with catching and retaining Pacific cod from waters adjacent to the Gulf of Alaska without all required designations and/or endorsements, and/or when directed fishing for Pacific cod was not open. A $29,621.38 NOVA was issued.

• F/V Unimak — Owner Unimak Vessel LLC and operator David L. Ostrom were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with exceeding the maximum retainable amount of pollock on one fishing trip and failing to timely submit one product transfer report. A $4,514 NOVA was issued.

Feds report three fisheries enforcement actions

NOAA's Office of General Counsel reports these cases charged in November:

• F/V Jennifer Lee — Owner Jennifer Lee Inc. and operator Adam Lee Swanson were charged jointly and severally under the Northern Pacific Halibut Act with failing to return halibut discards to the sea with a minimum of injury. An $8,800 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

• F/V New Venture — Owner New Venture Fisheries LLC and operator Peter T. Wilson Jr. were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act with fishing for Pacific cod in violation of an inseason action, closure or adjustment. $5,031 in seized proceeds were forfeited by abandonment. A $5,750 NOVA was issued, and the case settled for $5,175.

• F/V Cape Caution — Operator Kerby Glen Mitchell was charged under the Northern Pacific Halibut Act with fishing for halibut in violation of the act's annual management measures. Specifically, he possessed onboard a vessel Pacific halibut that had been filleted, mutilated or otherwise disfigured in any manner. 232 pounds of chunked northern Pacific halibut were forfeited by abandonment. A $2,050 NOVA was issued.

Excess cod, rockfish retention draws $10K penalty

The NOAA Office of General Counsel reports the following Alaska case charged in April:

• F/V Mar Del Norte — Owner North Sea Fisheries LLC and operator Robert W. Harrington were charged jointly and severally under the Magnuson-Stevens Act with exceeding the maximum retainable amount of Pacific cod and rockfish. A $10,690 NOVA (notice of violation and assessment) was issued.

Silver Bay settles enforcement action for $18,428

This federal report to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council includes this enforcement action, among others:

Plant operator Silver Bay Seafoods LLC was charged under the Magnuson‐Stevens Act for exceeding the applicable Rockfish Program processing cap for Pacific cod by 24,849 pounds, a 25.9 percent overage. A $20,475.58 amended notice of violation and assessment was issued. The case settled for $18,428.

Kodiak pair charged with illegal cod fishing

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Marmot Bay area, Kodiak Island
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
Alaska Wildlife Troopers received a report from the U.S. Coast Guard that they had observed the F/V Loki with its Pacific cod pots fishing within the closed waters around Marmot Island. Following an investigation, Ty L. Rouse, 53, of Kodiak, and Tyler J. Obrien, 27, of Kodiak, were issued citations for commercial fishing in closed waters. Arraignment set for 3/20/15 in Kodiak District Court.

Troopers cite Cook Inlet cod fisherman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Seward
Type: Groundfish area registration
On 1/24/15 Alaska Wildlife Troopers issued a summons to Yakov Reutov, 44, of Sterling, on the F/V Dynasty, for participating in the Cook Inlet commercial Pacific cod fishery without first registering for the fishery with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game as required. Arraignment set for 2/10/15 in Seward District Court.

Kodiak man cited over post-season gear storage

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak
Type: Illegal pot storage
On 3/28/14 Robert D. Nelson Sr., 39, of Kodiak, was cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers for illegal storage of pot gear after the close of the state waters Pacific cod season.

Kodiak cod fisherman charged with gear violation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Kodiak
Type: Illegal groundfish gear
On 3/21/14 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Jason R. Blondin, 29, of Kodiak, for using illegal groundfish gear during the state Pacific cod season. Blondin was the permit holder onboard the F/V My Beauty. Arraignment set for 4/7/14 in Kodiak District Court.

Troopers cite King Cove cod fisherman over gear

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: King Cove
Type: Unlawful gear
On 1/31/14 Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited Andrew Wilson, 25, of King Cove, for commercial fishing for Pacific cod with unlawful groundfish gear near Sanak Island. Upon inspection of Wilson's P-cod pots, operated by the F/V Miss Courtney Kim, it was determined several pots had tunnel eye openings greater than 36 inches. Arraignment set for 2/18/14 in Homer District Court.

Oregon cod fisherman cited twice

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sand Point, Korovin Strait
Type: Unlawful groundfish gear
On 9/25/13 Blake Painter, 34, of Astoria, Ore., was cited by Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing for Pacific cod with unlawful gear. Painter, who was operating the F/V Tradition, was found to have a cod pot with a tunnel eye perimeter in excess of 36 inches due to missing excluders. Arraignment set for 10/9/13 in Homer District Court.

Location: Sand Point, Popof Island area
Type: Improper groundfish gear
On 9/25/13 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a summons to Blake Charles Painter, 34, of Astoria, Ore., for commercial fishing for Pacific cod with a groundfish pot that did not contain an 18-inch bio-escape mechanism within 6 inches of the bottom of the pot. Arraignment set for 10/9/13 in Homer District Court.

Troopers cite Sand Point cod fisherman, crewman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Jacob Island area, Alaska Peninsula
Type: Commercial fish closed waters
On 2/8/13 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a summons to Peter Burton Calugan, 28, of Sand Point, for fishing Pacific cod in the Western Gulf of Alaska regulatory area during the parallel season while the area was closed to cod pot fishing. Arraignment set for 3/12/13 in Valdez District Court. Calugan also was given a $260 citation for employing an unlicensed crewmember.

Location: Jacob Island area, Alaska Peninsula
Type: Unlicensed crewmember
On 2/8/13 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a $260 citation to Carl J. Hoblet Jr., 29, of Sand Point, for working as a commercial crewmember aboard the F/V Tammy Ilene without being properly licensed.

Another cod fisherman ticketed over bycatch

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Seward
Type: Bycatch
On 6/12/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Seward Post, issued a summons to Anatoly Martushev, 27, of Wasilla, for exceeding his allowable bycatch while participating in the Cook Inlet commercial Pacific cod fishery. Arraignment set for 6/26/12 in Seward District Court.

Seward cod fisherman cited on bycatch violation

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Seward
Type: Bycatch
On 6/12/12 Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Seward Post, issued a summons to Timothy Chad Wilkie, 57, of Seward, for going over the limit of allowable bycatch while participating in the Cook Inlet commercial Pacific cod fishery. Arraignment set for 6/19/12 in Seward District Court.

King Cove cod fisherman cited, pots seized

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Commercial fish closed season
On 2/24/12 Melvin E. Koso Jr., 34, of King Cove, was cited by Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing during a closed season for Pacific cod near Cold Bay with the F/V Melanie Sue. Koso also was found to be fishing gear that was not properly identified with the F/V Melanie Sue's Alaska Department of Fish and Game number. A total of 11 groundfish pots were seized as evidence. Koso was given an arraignment date of 4/20/12 in Valdez District Court.

Troopers ticket King Cove cod fisherman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Dutch Harbor
Type: Commercial fish closed season, illegal gear
On 2/24/12 Raymond Dushkin, 48, of King Cove, was cited by Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing in a closed season for Pacific cod in Morzhovoi Bay with the fishing vessel Desirae Dawn. Dushkin also was found to be fishing with several illegal cod pots that had tunnel eye openings greater than 36 inches. Dushkin was given an arraignment date of 4/20/12 in Valdez District Court.

Cod skipper ticketed over unlicensed crewman

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Sand Point
Type: Employ unlicensed crewmember
On 10/8/11 Dutch Harbor Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Robert Craig Starr, 47, of Kodiak, for employing an unlicensed commercial fishing crewmember onboard his Pacific cod longline vessel. The fine is $260.

Homer jig fisherman lacked permit, troopers say

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Homer
Type: Commercial fish without permit
On 5/3/11 Alaska Wildlife Troopers issued a misdemeanor citation to Eric Haughey, 34, of Homer, for participating in the state Pacific cod jig fishery without a valid Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission permit card. Investigation revealed Haughey had made two trips without the original permit holder onboard and retained Pacific cod without previously obtaining a mechanical jig permit. Arraignment is scheduled for 6/7/11 in Homer District Court.

Troopers ticket cod fisherman near Chignik

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Near Paul Island, in the Chignik Pacific cod district
Type: Operating unlawful gear for groundfish
On 3/7/11 Kodiak Wildlife Troopers issued a citation to Benjamin T. Allen, 32, of Port Angeles, Wash. Allen was commercial fishing with Pacific cod pots with tunnel eye openings larger than 36 inches. Allen was given a court date of 4/13/11 in Naknek District Court.